Apparatus for transporting and installing portable tanks



Aug; 12, 1952 F. M. YOUNG 2,606,673

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING PORTABLE TANKS Filed Aug. 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVE/J TOR FLETCHER M YOUNG l w I2 ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1952 F. M. YOUNG 2,606,673

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING PORTABLE TANKS Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6 2 $HEETSSHEET 2 JNVENTOR. FLETCHER M. YOUNG ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1952 APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING PORTABLE TANKS Fletcher M. Young, Long Beach, Calif. Application August 26, 1948, Serial No. 46,346

(Granted under the act of March3, 1883, as. amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757),

Claims.

This invention relates to load receiving and transferring apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for transferring a tank from a truck to a stationary'lpedestal for storage and dispensing purposes. 5

Heretofore in delivering bulk materials which are normally transported in tanks or similar containers, it was necessary to pump the material from the tank or container to the place of storage. Thisoperation unnecessarily wastes time of personnel and equipment.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus whereby this unnecessary waste of time will be eliminated.

It is another object of this invention to provide load transferring and receiving apparatus whereby products which are now delivered in small containers or'by pumping from tank to .truck may be delivered in bulk.

Another object of this invention is to provide load receiving and transferring apparatus which facilitates convenient and appropriate storage at the place of use.

A further object of this invention is to provide load receiving and transferring apparatus to make possible bulk delivery of many products which, because of hazard during pumping transfer, do not lend themselves to bulk delivery.

A further object of this invention is to provide load receiving and transferring apparatus which makes possible a saving in time both for the consumer and the vendor of bulk liquid products.

A still further object of this invention is to provide load receiving and transferring apparatus which is simple in operation and economical in construction.

An additional object of this invention is to provide load receiving and transferring apparatus which eliminates overstressing and breaking of truck springs and axles during transfer of loads from truck to standard.

Other objects and'many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following description.

The apparatus of the invention comprises generally a truck, a tank carried thereby, and a stationary pedestal adapted to receive and support the tank. The tank is tipped from the truck onto the pedestal by suitable power means on the truck. During the tipping operation the bulk of the weight of the tank is taken by the pedestal legs, thereby relievingthe rear wheel assembly of the truck of the excess load that would otherwise be experienced. After the tank has been firmly seated on the pedestal, the connections between the tank and the truck are severed and the latter is free to depart for other hauling.

Several embodiments'o-f the instant invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v p

Fig. 1 is a side view of the instant invention showingthe truck in engagement with the pedestal with the tank ready to be tilted onto the pedestal;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the instant invention showing the tank in its seated position on the pedestal;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the pedestal alone taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa partial cross section of the truck, bed, saddles and tank taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial viewof the wedges about to engage the inclined'surfaces of the leg members;

Fig. 6 is a partial view of the wedges in full engagement and stopped in position;

Fig. '7 is a partial side View of a modification of the instant invention showing the truck backing toward thepedestal; r

Fig. 8 is a front view of the pedestal, showing the trunnion members, taken on line 8-8 of Fi 7;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the tank alone, taken on line 9-5 of Fig. 7 andshowingthe pivot guides; H p

Fig. 10 is a partial side view of a second modification of the instant invention showing the tank seated on the pedestahand Fig.,1l is a partial front section of the tank and pedestal taken on line ll-II of Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, [2 designates a truck terminating at its rear in a pair of wedges 13, having inclined surfaces i (Figs. 5 and 6) facing the ground, and stop walls it, provided at the bases of the wedges l3. A pivot shaft ll, transversely mounted on the truck l2, serves as a pivot for the rearward tilting of a bed I8, seated on the truck. A pair of tank saddles l9, secured to the bed [8, serve to cradle -a tank 2|, which is secured thereto by means of ey.ebolts 22. The tank 2| has a discharge dome .23, projecting rearward of the truck.

Numeral 24 designates a pedestal which serves to seat the, tank 2| and to support the weight of the tank while it is being transferred from the truck I 2. .The pedestal includes an, annular concave 'seat'it. supported by,,leg members, ,two

of which,2l;'have.on .their'top surfaces'inclined planes 28 disposed to engage the wedges ls upon backing of the truck I2 toward the pedestal 24. The forward faces 29 of the legs 21 abut the stop walls l6 of the wedges |3 and thereby assure predetermined positioning of the truck 12 relative to the pedestal 24. A circular opening 3| at the center of the concave seat 26 permits clearance for the dome 23 of the tank 2| upon seating. Tilting of the bed and tank is accomplished by a ram type hoist 3|, or other suitable mechanism.

Operation In operation, the truck l2, carrying a tank 2|, is backed toward the pedestal 24 until the wedges l3 of the truck engage the inclined planes 28 at the top of the leg members 21. The pedestal 24 is so constructed that complete engagement between the wedges l3 and the inclined planes 28 forces the rear of the truck to rise (Figs. 5 and 6), thus relieving the rear springs, axles, and wheels of the truck of a substantial portion of the load, and also, because therear of the truck is maintained level and stable, prohibiting lateral tilting of the tank while it is being transferred to the pedestal. The engagement of the wedges l3 and the inclined planes 28, limited by theabutment of the stop walls l5 against the forward faces 29 of the legs 27, places the apparatus in position for transfer of the tank 2| from the truck to the pedestal.

To effect the transfer, the ram hoist 3| is util V the annular concave seat 26 of the pedestal, with the discharge dome 23 extending through the circular clearanceopening 3 The tank is then unfastened from the saddles l9 by loosening the eyebolts 22, and the truck can be driven away from the pedestal, leaving the tank seated in position. At the option of the operator, the tilt bed l8 can be left attached to the tank by removal of the pivot shaft When it is desired to remove a tank 2| from the pedestal 24, an empty truck I2 is backed into engagement with the pedestal 24, with the bed l8 in elevated position, the tank is fastened to the saddles l9 by means of the eyebolts 22, and the bed I8 is lowered from the upright position to the horizontal position onto the truck l2 by the retraction of the hoist 3|. The truck can then be driven away from the pedestal leaving it ready to receive another tank.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9- eliminates the tilt bed of the apparatus. The tank 4| is seated in saddles 42 directly on the truck 43 and is fastened thereto by means of eyebolts. A pair of pivot guides 44 are secured to the bottom and rear of the tank 4|. The pivot guides'have guiding surfaces 45 and also have a pair of hook members 45, which are adjacent to and have a common center with the guiding surfaces 45. The tank is provided with a discharge dome 4? projecting rearwardly of the truck.

The-pedestal 4 8, which receives and seats the tank 4|, is like the pedestal 24 of the hereinbefore described embodiment except that the supporting leg member 49 terminates at the top in trunnions 5|, on which the guiding surfaces 45 u of the pivot guides 44 bear during the tilting of the tank. The leg members 49 are also provided with a pair of aligned stub shafts 52, which have a commoncenter with the trunnions 5|, and which are positioned to coact with the hook trunnions 5 members 46 of the tank 4| upon backing of the truck toward the pedestal. The hook members 46 thereby prevent accidental slipping of the tank 4| from the trunnions 5| during tilting.

The operation of this modification is quite similar to that of thefirstembodiment. The truck carrying the tank 4|. is backed toward the pedestal until the pivot guides 44 engage the The hook members 45 are now in location to act as a safeguard against overriding of the trunnions 5| by the guiding surfaces 45, should the truck 43 be backed too hard against the pedestal 48. By virtue of their position between the trunnions 5|, the hook members 46 also act as stops to prevent lateral slipping of the guiding surfaces 45 from the trunnions 5|.

After the truck is in position, the eyebolts holding the tank 4| to the saddles are loosened. By means of a ram type hoist linked to the tank by a suitable link 53, the tank is tilted about the axisof the trunnions 5| to its seated, position on the pedestal 48. When the-hoist is unlinked from the tank there are no furtherconneotions between the truck and'the tank, and the truck can be driven away. Removal of a tank is effected in a manner similar to thatdescribed in the first embodiment. 7

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. This form is like the modification described immediately above, except that the guiding surfaces '45 and the hook members 46 are made integral in the form of brackets 54. The trunnion 5| and stub shafts 52 of the Fig. 8 modification are changed to wheels 55, pivotedon shafts 51, secured to the pedestal 55, and of such size as to be embraced by brackets 54 to form therewith a pivotal coupling between the tank and the pedestal during the time While the tank is being up-ended. The wheels 56 assume the double function of pivoting the tank 58 and ofpreventing accidental overriding of the tank during the tilting. This modification operates in substantially the same manner as the first.

Obviously many modifications andvariations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The inventionrdescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. Load receiving and transferring apparatus comprising a truck including a bed and a load of elongated form carried thereon in horizontal po sition, a stationary pedestal adapted to receive said load in vertical position, supporting members on said pedestal adapted .to support said load during transfer of said load from said bed to said pedestal, engaging members on said load at the rear thereof effective to engage said supporting adapted to supportsaidload durin transfer of said load from said bed to said pedestal, engaging members on said load at the rear thereof effective to engage said supporting members upon backing of said truck toward said pedestal, thereby to assume the weight of said load during said transfer, and means for tilting said load from said bed onto said pedestal.

3. Load receiving and transferring apparatus comprising a vehicle including a bed and a load of cylindrical form carried thereon in horizontal position, a stationary pedestal adapted to receive said load in vertical position, supporting members on said pedestal adapted to support said load during transfer of said load from said bed to said pedestal, engaging members on said load efiective to engage said supporting members upon juxtaposition of said vehicle adjacent said pedestal, thereby to assume the weight of said load during said transfer, and means for tilting said load from said bed onto said pedestal.

4. Load receiving and transferring apparatus comprising a vehicle including a bed and a cylindrical tank carried thereon in horizontal position, a stationary pedestal adapted to receive said tank in vertical position, supporting members adapted to support said tank during transfer of said tank from said bed to said pedestal, engaging members on said tank effective to engage said supporting members upon juxtaposition of said vehicle adjacent said pedestal, thereby to as- 6 sume the weight of said tank during said transfer, "nd means for tilting said load from said bed onto aid pedestal.

5. Material handling apparatus comprising a cylindrical container adapted to be transported in horizontal position on a vehicle, a stationary pedestal shaped to support the container in upended position, spaced parallel wheels on said pedestal, and parallel brackets fixed to the container adjacent the lower rear end thereof and positioned to engage said wheels when the vehicle is backed into proximity to the pedestal to form a pivotal coupling between the container and the pedestal during up-ending.

FLETCHER M. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,379,472 Morgan et al. May 24, 1921 1,785,168 Young Dec. 16, 1930 1,901,482 Von Der Horst Mar. 14, 1933 2,189,052 Anthony Feb. 6, 1940 2,201,920 Pugh May 21, 1940 2,233,005 Garlinghouse Feb. 25, 1941 2,313,335 Godfrey Mar. 9, 1943 

